Winners announced for the 2018 Ivor Novello awards

BASCA, in association with PRS for Music, announce the winners of the 63rd Ivor Novello Awards (The Ivors)

The Ivors celebrate, honour and reward excellence in British and Irish songwriting and composing. Presented and judged by music creators they represent the pinnacle of musical achievement and peer recognition.

Ivor Novello Awards were presented in fourteen categories at the ceremony, hosted by Paul Gambaccini, which took place on Thursday 31st May at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London.

The nominated categories recognise works commercially released in the UK in 2017 that have a British or Irish songwriting or composing contribution of at least one third. The gift of BASCA awards recognise a sustained contribution to British Music.

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The Ivors celebrate the best in British and Irish music writing. Our composers and songwriters prove, again and again, that they are some of the best in the world. It is an immense privilege for BASCA to honour the extraordinary talent that exists in our sector, recognising creators across a vast range of contemporary music genres and awarding those who have created some of the most outstanding catalogues in music history. To every single winning composer, congratulations from all of us, you are spectacular and a credit to our amazing industry.

Crispin Hunt, BASCA Chair

The Ivors are presented by BASCA in association with PRS for Music. For more information visit www.theivors.com or follow us @TheIvors

PRS FOR MUSIC MOST PERFORMED WORKCompiled and title sponsored by The Ivors, sponsor this award credits the song that received the most broadcast, online and general performance in the UK during 2017.

Shape of You Written by Steve Mac, Johnny McDaid and Ed Sheeran Published in the UK by Rokstone Music - Universal Music Publishing, Spirit B-Unique - Polar Patrol and Ed Sheeran Limited - Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORERecognising outstanding original composition for a feature film, this year’s judges described the winning score as an uncompromising, brave and definitive part of an extraordinary film.

JackieComposed by Mica Levi Published in the UK by Beggars Music

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT Presented to Billy Ocean, in recognition of the excellence, and international success, of this song catalogue.

BEST CONTEMPORARY SONG This award recognises outstanding originality in songwriting and this year’s judges felt the winning song captures the personal and political landscape and in particular they praised the truth and execution of the lyrics.

Question TimeWritten by Dave and Fraser T SmithPublished in the UK by Warner/Chappell Music Ltd and Kobalt Music Publishing

THE IVORS CLASSICAL MUSIC AWARD Presented to Thea Musgrave, in recognition of an outstanding body of work in the classical genre.

BEST ORIGINAL VIDEO GAME SCORERecognising outstanding composition for a video game, this year’s judges felt that the winning score had an impressive scope, depth and attention to detail whilst retaining sensitivity to the emotional content.

BEST SONG MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY Recognising excellence in songwriting craft, this year’s judges said that the winning song succeeded structurally, musically and with heartfelt, beautiful imagery.

Magnificent (She Says)Written by Guy Garvey, Craig Potter, Mark Potter and Pete Turner Published in the UK by Salvation Music Ltd - Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd

PRS FOR MUSIC OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO BRITISH MUSICPresented to Billy Bragg, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to British Music.

BEST TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK Recognising outstanding, original composition for a television programme, the judges said the winning work was exquisitely composed with exceptional attention to detail.

The Miniaturist
Composed by Dan Jones
Published in the UK by Faber Music and Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd

ALBUM AWARDThis award recognises exceptional songwriting and consistency across an album as a whole. The judges described the winning album as an astonishing open hearted body of work that fully captures the spirit of 2017.

Gang Signs & Prayer
Written by Michael 'Stormzy' Omari
Published in the UK by Warner/Chappell Music Ltd

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Presented to a British or Irish songwriter who has released an exceptional body of work during the award year, the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year 2017 was presented to Ed Sheeran.

THE IVORS INSPIRATION AWARDPresented to Shane MacGowan in recognition of the power of his songwriting to inspire the creative talents of others.

OUTSTANDING SONG COLLECTION
Presented to songwriter Cathy Dennis in recognition of her outstanding body of work.

PRS FOR MUSIC SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL AWARD
The only Ivor Novello Award independently presented to an international writer, the PRS for Music Special International Award recognises a songwriter whose work has left an indelible mark on British music. It was presented to Lionel Richie.

About The Ivors

The Ivor Novello Awards were created by BASCA in 1956. Named in honour of Ivor Novello, Britain’s most successful and distinguished theatrical composer at the time, the aim of the awards was to shine a spotlight on the excellence of British songwriters and composers in an age when international music dominated the British airwaves.

The Ivors were first presented on 11th March 1956 at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London. The statuette, a representation of Euterpe (the Greek muse of music and lyric poetry), was designed by Hazel Underwood and to this day, is still cast in solid bronze. For over 60 years statuettes have been presented to songwriters, composers and their music publishers in recognition of the excellence of their compositions.

The Ivors continue to be owned and presented by BASCA, and since 1974 have been sponsored by PRS for Music. www.theivors.com

About BASCA

The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) exists to celebrate, support and protect the professional interests of all writers of music. We are the voice for music writers; the independent professional association representing music writers in all genres, from songwriting, through to media, contemporary classical and jazz and can trace our history back over 70 years.

Whilst we are well known for putting on the British Composer Awards, the Gold Badge Awards and The Ivors every year, there is far more to us than these events. BASCA campaigns in the UK, Europe and throughout the world in order to protect the professional interests of our members. We count on the best songwriting and composing talent in order to do this important work and are entirely self-funding, relying on the continuing support of our members, who include Sir Paul McCartney, The 1975, Calvin Harris, Coldplay, Dizzee Rascal, Annie Lennox, Gary Barlow, David Arnold, Sir Elton John, Imogen Heap, Howard Goodall, John Powell, Harrison Birtwistle, Kate Bush and many more. www.basca.org.uk

About PRS for Music

PRS for Music represents the rights of songwriters, composers and music publishers in the UK and around the world. As a membership organisation it works to ensure that creators are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. In 2019, 18.8 trillion performances of music were reported to PRS for Music with £810.8m collected on behalf of its members, making it one of the world’s leading music collective management organisations.

PRS for Music’s public performance licensing is now carried out on PRS for Music’s behalf by PPL PRS Ltd, the new joint venture between PPL and PRS for Music.